Australian company H2X Global is working to help shift the automotive industry away from fossil fuels after developing a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain incorporating supercapacitors that will be used to power its range of delivery vans and other work vehicles from 2024.
A hydrogen fuel cell consumes hydrogen and oxygen in a chemical process that produces only electricity, heat and water – cutting down on harmful CO2 emissions.
“The advantage we’ve got is the delivery vehicle can be refilled with hydrogen in three minutes and then it’s capable of running for around 700 kilometres – double or more the range of a battery electric delivery vehicle,” says H2X Global co-founder and chief executive Brendan Norman.
“It means professional drivers can drive the vehicle all day without having to put it in storage for eight hours while it recharges. That’s the benefit of our system.”
H2X is finishing development of three fuel cell electric vehicles with Austrian motorcycle and sports car manufacturer KTM and planning to launch the Darling delivery van in Europe late in 2024.
The company also has plans to manufacture vehicles for the Australian market when hydrogen becomes more readily available.
H2X is also manufacturing a Warrego utility model, in Victoria. The Warrego is a Ford Ranger with the diesel engine replaced by an H2X hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain. The Warrego models made in Australia are demonstration vehicles aiming to show the efficiency of the H2X fuel cell system and act as a supply for companies that are in the hydrogen industry.
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